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No. 18 





or 
SS 
THE TEGUCIGALPA COINAGE 
OF 1823 


By HOWLAND WOOD 


THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY 
BROADWAY AT I56TH STREET 
NEW YORK 


1923 


PUBLICATIONS 


The American Journal of Numismatics, 
1866-1920. 


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rary Medals. March, 1910. New and revised 
edition. New York. 10911. xxxvi, 412 
pages, 512 illustrations. ' $10.00. 


The American Numismatic Society. Exhibition — 


of United States and Colonial Coins. 1914. 
vii, 134 pages, 40 plates. $1.00. _ 





mel S MAT ILC 
NOTES AND MONOGRAPHS 


Numismatic Notes AND MONOGRAPHS is 
devoted to essays and treatises on subjects 
relating to coins, paper money, medals and 
decorations, and is uniform with Hispanic 
Notes and Monographs published by the 
Hispanic Society of America, and with In- 
dian Notes and Monographs issued by the 
Museum of the American Indian—Heye 


Foundation. 


No longer the property of 
The Library 
Mount Holyoke Coltesre 


THE TEGUCIGALPA 
COINAGE OF 1823 


BY 
AN i ale 





THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY 
BROADWAY AT 156TH STREET 
NEW YORK 


1923 








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COPYRIGHT 1923 ! 
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THE AMERICAN NUMISMATI! 
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THE TEGUCIGALPA COINAGE 
OF 1823 


By How.ianp Woop 


When Napoleon in 1808 took over the 
rights to the Spanish crown and confined 
Ferdinand VII a prisoner at Bayonne, the 


results and consequences of this action were 
of far-reaching import. This usurpation on 
the part of Napoleon caused intense feeling 
in the Spanish possessions in the New 
World, and a struggle soon arose between 
the supporters of the monarchy and the 
adherents of freedom. Standards of revolt 
and of independence were set up by different 
leaders in various parts of South America 
and Mexico, meeting with changing fortunes 
for about ten years. Gradually the differ- 
ent political divisions won their freedom and 
established themselves as Republics. 


Movi thaT TC NOTES 





T E Gg Cl GA es 


The coinage of Spanish America for the 
second and third decades of the Nineteenth 
Century is indicative of the stirring events 
and changes of this period. The topic under 
discussion, however, is with a series of two- 
real pieces issued at Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 
in 1823, during the last months of Mexican 
domination under Iturbide or Augustin, and 
the transitional period after his downfall. 
The series is remarkable on account of the 
variety of designs and combinations of dies 
bearing the date 1823. The issues seem to 
have begun and ended within that year. 

In an article written in 1888 by José Este- 
ban Lazo entitled Historia de la Moneda en 
Honduras, no mention is made at all of this 
1823 issue. As the account goes much into 
detail concerning other periods of the coin- 
age, 1t seems probable that examples of this 
coinage are no longer found in Honduras, 
and that no records are now extant. Re- 
peated inquiries have borne no fruit. Sefior 
Lazo, however, mentions a coinage at Tegu- 
cigalpa in 1822, but coins bearing this date 
are apparently unknown. It is possible that 
these have disappeared completely, or were 


NUMISMATHC NOs 


COINAGE OF 3178-23 


direct copies of other coins and cannot now 
be distinguished. 

The following translation of an account of 
this coinage by Sefior Lazo is of interest: 


“In the year 1822 Don Juan Lindo, a 
member of the Mexican Cortes, brought 
from Mexico to Tegucigalpa a die to 
‘coin’ reals and half-reals in cut money. 
The minting took place in the building of 
the Convent of San Francisco, but there 
were many falsifications, and it was re- 
solved to give up the minting for this rea- 
son. There are no facts in regard to the 
number struck.” 


With the exception of some proclamation 
pieces struck by Augustin of Mexico in 
Guatemala, Chiapas and Quezaltenango in 
1822, the above coins constitute the only 
issues in Central America of this revolu- 
tionary period. 

The next coinage appeared seven years 
later when General Morazin brought a 
coining press from Guatemala. 

The regular coinages of the Republic of 
Central America began at Guatemala in 


Pee WeOUN OG RA PHS 


TEGUCIGALPA 


1824, and coins of the same design, the com- 
mon type with sun,mountains and tree, were 
struck in Honduras in 1830. These had the 
mint mark T, for Tegucigalpa. Costa Rica 
adopted this design in 1831. In the mean- 
time, similar pieces were inaugurated in 
Nicaragua in 1825. Salvador had a pro- 
visional coinage from 1828 to 1835. 

For a better understanding of this coin- 
age of 1823, a brief word regarding the his- 
tory leading up to this period is necessary. 

On the whole, Central America remained 
loyal to Ferdinand and the Junta Suprema 
during the time the greater part of Spanish 
America was in revolt. Although feeling 
ran high and opposing parties were formed, 
no real rupture occurred until 1821. Es- 
pecially was this true as long as Ferdinand 
remained in the power of Napoleon. On his 
release in 1814, he aroused much antago- 
nism by a manifesto setting aside the consti- 
tution. This, under compulsion, he restored 
in 1820, but conciliatory actions on the part 
of Spain were too late. Revolutions in 
Mexico, for a time suppressed, were breaking 
out again under Iturbide. On February 24, 


NUM IS Mitt Ce es 





COLNAG EOF 91.823 


1821, the Plan of Iguala was formulated, 
when Guerrero and the Spanish Viceroy 
O’Donaju joined with Iturbide and proposed 
an independent monarchy with a ruler from 
the Spanish Royal Family. Chiapas in the 
Captain-Generalcy of Guatemala was the 
first to break away and link itself with 
Mexico. Independence was proclaimed in 
Guatemala on September 15, 1821, when it 
was decreed that representatives should be 
chosen for a National Congress of Central 
America. 

The officials at Comayagua, in Hondu- 
ras, took an oath to support the Plan of 
Iguala, which meant a virtual submission 
to the Mexican Empire. The Partidos of 
Tegucigalpa and Gracias, and the ports of 
Omoa and Trujillo, would not agree to this 
and maintained relations with the Guate- 
mala Assembly, to which they sent represen- 
tatives. Independence from Spain was de- 
clared on October 16, 1821. 

In Nicaragua, some provinces voted to 
join the Assembly at Guatemala, but the 
majority voted to become a part of Mexico. 
Salvador cast her lot with Guatemala. 


Don DI MONOGRAPHS 





LEG UCL a 


The idea of a union with Mexico became 
every day more popular. Iturbide had 
grandiose ideas of Imperial sway and was 
determined on the acquisition of the whole 
of Central America. On January 5, 1822, 
the Junta by decree made the whole of the 
country a part of the Empire of Mexico. 
Salvador and certain sections of Honduras 
still held out. . 

On the overthrow of Iturbide in March, 
1823, Central America became autonomous, 
A Resolution was adopted on March 20, 
1823, which called together a Congress of 
all the provinces to carry out the Act of 
September 15, 1821, which had been an- 
nulled by the fifteen months’ incorporation 
of the country with Mexico. Various steps | 
were then taken to enter into a union with 
the other provinces to constitute an inde- 
pendent Central American nation. Con- 
gress assembled on June 24, 1823, and an 
Ordinance of Independence was adopted on | 
July 1, and ratified on October 1, of this 
eventful year. 

The series of coins under discussion were 
crudely executed and were struck in base 





NUMISMA11T Ce 


COENAGE OF 1823 


silver. At least nine distinct dies were used 
producing eight combinations. This in it- 
self is unusual, especially if the pieces were 
struck within the year 1823. The’ dies 
were undoubtedly made within that year, 
and all the coins were most likely struck be- 
fore 1824. No great number could have 
been issued, judging by their extreme rarity. 
It is a remarkable fact that these coins are 
all of the denomination of two-reals. 

The sequence of the dies, with the excep- 
tion of No. 1, is difficult to determine exact- 
ly. The coins .themselves with their sev- 
eral die-combinations are even more com- 
plicated when assigning their proper order. 
The present arrangement is consequently 
merely tentative. The initials on the pieces 
may give a clue if the precedent of the South 
American mints is followed which placed the 
initials of the mint officials on the coins. 

_ In the Tegucigalpa series are found two 
sets of letters—M. P. and L. A. It can be 
| safely said that the coin bearing the head of 
Augustin (No. 1) was the initial coinage, as 
it must have been struck before the downfall 
of the Emperor in March. ‘This piece bears 


mre ONOGRAPHS 


TEGU CICA 


the letters M. P. The other dies bearing 
the same letters should follow; then the coins 
with the initials L. A. showing a change of 
mint personnel. The L. A. coins are com- 
bined with the M. P. initials on the other 
side, but this might be explained by the fact 
that the earlier dies were used in conjunction 
with those newly cut. The practice appar- 
ently was to use indiscriminately any pair 
of dies on hand for the sake of economy. 
This consideration of the letters M. P. 
as initials of mint officials might be chal- 
lenged. They might possibly stand for the 
abbreviation of Moneda Provisional. On 
coins Nos. 4 to 7 the inscriptions read 
M. TEGVSIGALPA and M. PROVISIONAL. In 
these instances the M undoubtedly stands 
for Moneda. It would seem extremely 
doubtful that the letters M. P., Nos. 1, 2 or 
3, can be anything else than the initials of 
mint officials. Certainly No. 1 cannot be 
considered a provisional issue; and the 
transposal of the letters on the reverse of 
No. 2 would militate against such a theory. 
Medina considers the initials L. A. stand 
for Avo Libertad in his description of No. 6. 


NUMIDS M ATC e Neer 


Olea OF 1823 


He has undoubtedly mis-read the inscrip- 
tion, placing a second 3 after the date, in- 
terpreting it as the third year of liberty. 
There is no second 3 on the coin. 

Again, if the legend be read Afio Libertad 
the letters would be A. L. instead of L. A. as 
they appear on Nos. 7 and 8. 


AUGUSTIN I EMPEROR 


MEXICAN SUPREMACY (UNTIL Marcu, 1823) 


t Obv. Crudely executed head of Augustin 
to left, ENPER (sic) . AGVSTIN . 1823 - 
Rev. Crowned Mexican eagle on cactus, 
M.P.---2 R. 

Base silver. 22 mm. Plate I 


- American Numismatic Society. Inedited. 


There is no indication of the minting 
place on this piece, but the mint is clearly 
established by Nos. 6 and 8 which have 
the same reverse die used in conjunction 
with dies inscribed TEGUSIGALPA. 

The workmanship is decidedly inferior 
to the proclamation reals issued in Gua- 
temala and Chiapas the preceding year. 


Pee rviweN OG ROA PHS 





TEGU CLG. 


PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT 


AFTER THE DOWNFALL OF AUGUSTIN IN 
MArcu. 


2 Obv. Castles and lions within the compart- 
ments of a cross,.enclosed within four sets 
of double semi-circles; at sides, M—P; 
around, PLVSVLTRA; the rest of the circle 
filled with a rope pattern. 

Rev. Pillars of Hercules above two wavy 
lines. In three lines divided by two hori- 
zontal lines, P-2-M | LV-SVL-TR | T-823-G. 
Good silver. 26 mm. Plate I 


American Numismatic Society. Inedited. 


Although this piece has many of the 
characteristics of the Caracas issues of 
1817-1821 , the workmanship is consider- 
ably different. It can also be compared 
with the extensive series of one-real and 
two-real pieces which were struck on thin 
and thick planchets, and noted chiefly for 
the many impossible dates they bear.’ 
The piece is included here particularly on 
account of the letters m.p. The trans- 
posal of the M.P. to P.M. on the reverse is 


NUMIS MA DC y =: 


PO ENG EOF 1823 


in accordance with the customs of the 
Lima and Potosi mints. It is suggested 
that the T G is an abbreviation of Tegu- 
cigalpa. 


Obv. Castles and lions within the four 
compartments of a cross enclosed within 
four sets of double semi-circles; around, 
2 R. M. P. 

Rev. Same die as reverse of No. 1. 


Appleton Sale, New York, 1913, lot 1371. 


Campaner y Fuertes in Memorial Nu- 
mismatico Espanol, indicates this combina- 
tion in the illustrations on Plate VIII 
by a line connecting the two obverses of 
Nos. 4 and 6 of this article. Again, we 
have a coin with no mint indication. 


Obv. Crowned arms of Spain between 
the Pillars of Hercules. Around, 2 R-M 
TEG VSIGAL PA L—A 1823: 

Rev. Same as obverse of No. 3. 

Base silver. 24 mm. Plate I 
Ulex Sale, Frankfort, 1908, lot 2202 (illustrated), 


Medina, No. 253; Campaner y Fuertes, p. 256, No. 
18; pl. viii, 9; Maillet, pl. cix, 1. 


Pave IN OGRA PHS 


Il 


TEG UCT GA 


The drawing of the coin on Campaner’s 
plate, while agreeing in every other way 
with the piece here illustrated, divides the 
word TEGV-SIGAL-PA. Maillet’s drawing, 
evidently copied, is consequently the 
same. 

This is the first instance of the name 
Tegucigalpa as well as the letters L A on 
the coins. 

The Royal Arms on this coin may have 
significance as indicating that this piece 
was struck by the Spanish party; but the 
fact that the name of Ferdinand is not 


on the coin lessens somewhat such a sup- 
position. 


Obv. Same as the obverse of no. 4. 

Rev. Similar to the reverse of no. 4, but 
single semi-circles instead of double. 
Base silver. 25 mm. Plate II 


Am. Num. Soc.; Vidal Quadras No. 10963, pl. 79-8 
Obv. Same as obverse of No. 4. 
Rev. Same as reverse of No. 1. 


Campaner y Fuertes, Pl. viii, 10; Medina, No. 252; 
Maillet, Pl. cix, 2. 


NUMIS MAW 1G Ge 





COTNAGE OF 1823 


7 Obv. Crowned arms of Spain between the 
Pillars of Hercules. Around, + 2 RM: 
PROVISIONAL: 

Rev. Lions and castles within arms of 
cross enclosed within semi-circles. Around, 
TEGVSIGALPA L’A 1823 

26 mm. | Plate II 


Vidal Quadras, No. 10962, pl. 79-7; Medina, No. 
254; Fonrobert Sale, Berlin, 1878. Lot 7459. 


This is the only instance where the 
word Provisional appears, the M in this 
case is for Moneda. 


Obv. Same as the reverse of No. 7. 
Rev. Same as the reverse of No. 1. 
Good silver. 24 mm. Plate II 


Am. Num. Soc.; British Museum; Jenks Sale, Phila- 
delphia, 1921, lot 7112; Ulex Sale, lot 2203 (?). 


The specimen described: in the Ulex 
Sale answers the description of this piece 
but is given as without date. It may have 
been obliterated. 


Pere OernieO IN OG RAPHS 





TEGUCPHOA ti 


NOTES 


1. Silver reals, two-reals and four-reals 
from 1817-1821. Although a number of 
minor varieties occur, the pieces answer to 
the following description: 


Obv. Lions and castles within the com- 
partments of a cross enclosed within four 
scalloped semi-circles; at sides F—7, 
above and below 1, 2 or 4, according to 
the value. 


Rev. The Pillars of Hercules, inscription 
between three horizontal lines, 1, 2 or 4 | 
PLV-SVL-TRA | B.-1817-S.; below, CARACAS, 
beneath which three or four wavy lines. 


2. These pieces have never been accu- 
rately assigned. They fall into two classes, | 
on account of style and thickness. It has 
been suggested that most of the thicker 
coins, because of the general similarity to 
certain pieces struck at Rioja, Argentina, 
in 1822, belong to that locality. 

The thinner series resembles so closely 
the style and fabric of the Caracas pieces 
that the customary assigning of them to 


NUMISMA TiC Nee 





COtN GE O.F..1823 


Venezuela is doubtless correct. They were 
most certainly struck during the Revolu- 
tionary period in the second and third de- 
cades of the Nineteenth Century. The ini- 
tials are invariably M—L, t—m. The most 
interesting feature, however, is the dates. 
Some of those noted are as follows: 23, 24, 
Pe Eel AsetA0, 172, 174, TOi,,182, 184, 
Coty 1, 721,730, 751, 752) 777; 791; 794, 
800, 814, 822, 823, 931, 1816 and 1817. 


Pa Nwree nv OIN © GRA PHS 





16 


TEGUCT GAT 2s. 


REFERENCES 


J. T. Medina. Las Monedas Obsidionales 
Hispano-Americanas. Santiago de Chile, 
IQIQ. 

Campaner y Fuertes. Memorial Numis- 
mitico Espanol, Vol. II, 1868. 

Catdlogo de la Coleccién de Monedas y Me- 
dallas de Manuel Vidal Quadras y Ramén, 
Vol. III, Barcelona, 1892. 

Prosper Maillet. Catalogue Descriptif des 
Monnaies Obsidionales et de Neécessité, 
Bruxelles, 1870. 

Die Jules Fonrobert’sche Sammlung iiber- 
seeischer Miinzen. Sold by Adolph Weyl, 
Berlin, 1878. 

Sammiung des Herrn Georg F. Ulex, sold 
by Adolph Hess Nachfolger, Frankfurt, 
May 11, 1908. 

William S. Appleton Collection. Sold by 
Thos. L. Elder, New York, 1913. 

John Story Jenks Collection. Sold by Henry 
Chapman, Philadelphia, 1921. 


NUMISMA TUCGRN G3 


Priate I 


TEGUCIGALPA 








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NuMISMATIC NOTES AND MONOGRAPHS 


1. Sydney P. Noe. Coin Hoards. 1921. 
47 pp. 6pl. soc. 


2. Edward T. Newell. Octobols of Histiza. 
T9021, 25 pp. “-2"pl... soc. 


3. Edward T. Newell. Alexander Hoards— | 
Introduction and Kyparissia Hoard. 
Tool. 2 28 pp. 2-pls «soc. 


4. Howland Wood. The Mexican Revolu- 
tionary Coinage, 1913-1916. 1921. 44 
pp. 26 pl. $2.00. 


Leonidas Westervelt. The Jenny Lind 
Medals and Tokens. 1921. 25 pp. 


gpl. soc. 









ive Roman Gold Me- © 
103 pp. 8 pl. $1.50. 


fedallic Work of A. 
. 31 pp. 17 pl. $1.00. 
‘he Mint of the Philip- 
tS pp: ai ple fsoc. 


, LL.D. Computing 
pp. 25 pl. $1.50. 





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N UMISMATIC N OTES AND MoNocRaPHs 


10. 


II. 


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Le 


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re pe ealionss i 30 9 PP. 6 pl. 




















Wanah i 





Dotiaes éf heal: ) 1921. 
$1.00. | ae 


Harrold E. Gillinghain | a Orders 
-and Decorations. ee “TIO, BP ; 
ah $2. 00. | | 


1922. TPP. 





Rak TWhitehend 
Coinage of N. Ww. India. 
ane!) 25 pl. $2.00. | ee ae 


George F. “Hill. *Attembeat 
-Characene, 1932, 12 BBs 


M. P. Wide : ‘Taras Oikistes, (A 
bution to Tarentine | Ha 


Ke | 234 pe. 


_ mh x. 50. 


- Agnes: Baldwin ue 


